Apparatus for re-forming the flanges of can-bodies.



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A. JOHNSON. APPARATUS FOR REFORMING THE FLANGESOF CAN BODIES.

7 APPLICATION FILED JAN- 4. l9.l. wmw

v Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.'

. A. JOHNSON. APPARATUS'FOR REFORMING THE FLANGES 0F CAN BODIES.

I APPLICATION FILED mm. 1916. m

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

- A. JOHNSON. APPARATUS FOR REFORMING THE FLANGES 0F CAN BODIES. APPLICATION FILED JAN-4. 19m.

LA g PatentedAug. 29,1916.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EL JOHNSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AXEL JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Beforming the Flanges of Can-Bodies, of which the following is'a specification.

The present invention relates to a continuously operating machine for reforming the flanges on the bodies of cans used for the preservation of food products or other materials, after said flanges have become distorted. v

In the use of the so-called sanitary cans, the open end of the can body is usually flanged before the can is filled, and sometimes before the can is shipped'from the manufacturer to the canner. It frequently happens, therefore, that the flange is damaged and becomes distorted before the can is ready for the sealing operation, and since a distorted flange is exceedingly apt to cause a leaky seam, it is of importanceto reform all such distorted flanges.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for the described purpose, which operates on either a filled or an empty can, and which, by the continuous and uninterrupted motion of its parts, performs the desired function with the greatest possible eificiency and economy.

In order to comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation taken on a plane passing through the vertical axis of the machine. Fig. 3 is a part sectional plan taken, in the direction of the arrows, on the line m-m of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail taken, in the direction of the arrows, on the irregular line i of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a part sectional detail of one of the flange reformingunits of the machine.

In the drawings and referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the numeral 1 Y represents a central vertical shaft, rotatably mounted in an upwardly extending hub 2 carried by a suitably formed base or supporting member 3. A circular horizontal plate 4, having its rim 4 up-turned to form a pan to catch any material that may be spilled from the c ns in th ir travel through APPARATUS FOR IRE-FORMING THE FLANGES OF CAN-BODIES.

Specification 01' Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 29, 191%,

Application filed January 4, me. Seria1No. 70,225.

upon its outer end a belt pulley 9, or other means not illustrated, for receiving power from an outside source. Journalecl upon the'shaft 1 above the hu 2, and spaced therefrom by a sleeve 10, is a stationary cylindrical cam member 11, Figs.

- 1 and 2 of the drawings. Dowels 12 retain said spacing ring 10 and said cam member 11 stationary with respect to the hub 2.

Carried by the upper end of the shaft 1 1s a horizontally rotatable turret 13, in the peripheral region of which are fixed a plurahty of depending spindles 14, each provlded at its lower end with a flange reformmg die 15. In the particular form of ma chine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, four of these spindles and dies are shown, but it is understood that any number, within the limits of structural practicability, may be used. In like manner, the flange reforming dies may be round, as herein illustrated, or any other shape, depending on the shape of can whose flange is to be reformed.

Mounted for vertical movement upon each spindle 14 is a sleeve 16. A key17 therein, coacting with a key-way 18 in said spindle 14, prevents said sleeve from rotating about "said spindle, without interfering with its vertical sliding movement thereon. The sleeve 16 carries, upon an inwardly projecting stud 19, a cam-following roller 20, adapted to lie within and follow a camgroove 21 formed in the exterior of the member 11, and upon its lower end an en-v larged semi-cylindrical clamping portion 22,

I within which is carried a semi-circular die shown in Figs. 1, 2 .and 5 of the drawings. 7

A yoke 28 is pivotally mounted upon the sleeve 16 by means of a pin .29 parallel to the pivot. pin 27 and on the opposite side of Mt 1 we air.

I said sleeve therefrom. This yoke 28 carries away from the stationary jaw 22.

The horizontal drive shaft 8 has fixed upon it a bevel pinion 34, Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, which meshes with two oppositely disposed bevel gears and 36, mounted respectively upon the inner ends of two suitably journaled alined shafts 37 and 38. Said shafts carry at their outer ends the respective belt pulleys 39 and 40, over which run, and by which are driven, in opposite directions, the conveyer belts 41 and 42, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, adapted respectively to deliver cans 43 to and discharge the same from the operating mechanism of the machine. Suitable guide rails 44, supported by means of brackets 45, are provided to guide said cans 43 in their veyer belts 41 and 42.

Mounted in the supporting frame par- I allel to and beneath the drive shaft 8 is a rock shaft 46, Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, which carries at one end a lever 47 having a roller 48 adapted to engage and follow an eccentric cam 49'upon said drive shaft 8. An upwardly extending arm 50, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 ofthe drawings, is fixed upon the other end of said rock shaft 46, and is provided with a forked end 51 which embraces a transverse rod 52,.slidably mountof the cam 49 and the intervening mechanism, at the proper time to insure that the can, thus permitted to advance from the positionA, Figs. 1 and3 of the drawings,

will be carried intoexact registry with one of the clamping members. carried by the continuously revolving turret 13. I The can 43 having been carried to the position B, the roller 30, following the cam groove 31, actuates the described mechanism to close. the movable clamping jaw 24, Fig.

' 1 of the drawings, upon said can 43 to clamp he sam firmly betw en said movable jaw 24 and the relatively fixed jaw 22. Immediately thereafter the roller 20, following the cam groove 21, causes the sleeve 16 and the clamping jaws 22 and 24 to be raised vertically, and by so doing to lift the can 43 secured therewithin clear of the conveyer belt 41, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This lifting continues until the position C, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is reached, at which point the flange 43' of the can 43 is pressed between the lower die ring composed of the complementary semi-circular members 23 and 25, and the relatively fixed die 15,

whereby any irregularities in said flange 43' are stamped out, and the same is restored to perfect form. The can 43 is then lowered, by means of the roller 20 and the cam groove 21, until the position D, Fig. 3 of the drawings, is reached, at which point said can rests upon the discharge conveyer 42,

whereupon the roller 30 operates to open the clamping jaws 24 and thus release the can, which 1s carried away from the machine by said conveyer 42.

The invention has been described and illustrated herein in its preferred form. However, changes may be made in the form and construction of the device without in any way affecting the principles of the mvention, and I therefore do not wish to be proper paths while being carried by the conlimited in this regard, but on the contrary, I wish to be understood as claiming the invention as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

Having thus described my inventlon, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Let ters Patent is:-

1. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a relatively stationary die member, and movable means for engaging and lifting a flanged can body to press said flange between said engaging means and said die.

2. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a relatlvely stationary die member, movable clamping devices for room and embracing the flanged end of a can dy, and means for moving said clamping devices to press the flange of said can body between said clamping devices and said die.

3. In an apparatus for the described urpose, a relatlvely stationary die mem r, movable clamping devices adapted to embrace a flanged can body, a die rin within said clamping devices, and means or moving said clamping devices to press said flange between said die and said die ring.

-4. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination. with-conveyer means for supplying and discharging cans, of a die member, and means for engaging a flanged can body, removing the same from said conveyer, lifting the same to bring the flange thereof into engagement with said die, and then depositing the same upon said conveyer to be discha g d f om the machine.

In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination with conveyer means for supplying and discharging cans, of a die member, movable clamping devices for a embracing a flanged can body, and means for moving said clamping devices to remove said can body from said conveyer, to bring the flange thereof into engagement with, said die, and then to deposit said can body upon s saidconveyer to be discharged from the machine;

6. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination with conveyor means for supplying and discharging cans, of a M die member, movable clamping devices for embracin a flanged vcan body, a die ring within sald clamping devices, and means for moving said clamping devices to remove said can body from said conveyer, to press the as flange thereof between said die and said die ring, and then to deposit said can body upon said conveyer to be discharged from the machine.

7. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a relatively stationary die member, movable devices for receiving and clamping a flanged can body in axial alinement with said die, and means for moving said clamping devices to press the flange of said can i as lipdy between said clamping means and said 8. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a relatively stationary die member, means for receiving a filled open ended flanged can and conveying the same into axial alinement with said die, clamping devices for embracing the flanged end of said can, and means for raising said clamping devices to press the flange of said can between said clamping devices and said die.

9. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a relatively stationary die member, means for receiving a filled open ended flanged can and conveying the same into M axial almement with said die, clamping devices for embracing the flanged end of said can, means for raising said clamping devices to press the flange of said, can between said clamping devices and said die, and 5 means for removing said can fromsaid clamping devices after said flange has been pressed.

10. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a rotating turret carrying a die, means for receiving a flanged can body and positioning the same 'in axial alinement with said die, clamping devices associated with said turretfor embracing said can body and lifting the, sameto press the flange thereof at between said clamping devices and said die.

11. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a rotating turret carrying a die, means for receiving a flanged can body and positioning the same in axial alinement with W. said die, clamping devices associated with said turret for embracing said can body,

means for lifting said clamping devices to press the flange of said can body between said clamping devices and said die, and means for removing said can body from said m clamping devices.

12. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a rotating turret carrying a die, means for positioning a flanged can body in axial alinement therewith, clamping devices as- ,sociated with said die and actuated by the turret to raise said clamping devices, to press the flange of said can body between said clamping devices and said die, and means for removing said can body from said clamping devices.

14. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a rotating turret carrying a fixed spindle with a flange reforming die mounted upon the end thereof, a sleeve slidably mounted upon said spindle, clamping devices carried by said sleeve, means for positioning a flanged can body within the sphere of said clamping devices, means actuated by the rotation of the turret to close said clamping devices about said can body, means actuated by the rotation of the turret to lift said sleeve to press the flange of said can body between said clamping devices and said die, and means for removing said can body from the sphere of said clamping devlces.

15. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a rotating turret carrying a plurality of depending spindles each having a flange reforming die carried upon the end thereof and a sleeve slidably mounted thereon, means for successively positioning flanged can bodies in axial alinement with said dies, clamping devicescarried by said sleeves and actuated by the rotation of said turret to em brace said can bodies, and means actuated by the rotation of said turret to successively lift said sleeves to press the flanges of said can bodies between said clamping devices and said dies. 1 Y

16. In an apparatus for the described purpose, a rotating-turret carrying a plurality of depending spindles each having a flange reforming die carried upon the end thereof and a sleeve slidably mounted thereon, means for successively positioning flanged can bodies in axiaI alinement with said dies, clamping devices carried by said sleeves and actu- 1M a r r 1,186,695

- ated by the rotation of said turret to em- In'testimony whereof I have signed my brace said can bodies, a die ring within each name to this specification in the presence of 10 of said clamping devices, means actuated two subscribing witnesses.

by the rotation of said turret to successively 5 lift said sleeves to press the flanges of said I AXEL JOHNSON can bodies between said die rings andsaid Witnesses: dies, and means for removing said can bod- N. A. A0

ies'when released by said clamping devices. D. B. RICHARDS. 

